Add Page Numbers to PDF (Free & Private)
Choose where the numbers go, how they look and which pages get them, then download the numbered PDF.
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In short
To add page numbers to a PDF, choose one of six positions, a format such as “Page 1 of 10”, a first number and whether to skip the cover page. Numbers are added in your browser and the file is never uploaded.
Page numbers make long documents easier to navigate, cite and print, and some submissions require them, such as court bundles, theses and tender responses. CareerPDF adds page numbers to any PDF in your browser, with full control over where and how they appear.
You choose one of six positions, a format such as “1”, “1 / 10” or “Page 1 of 10”, the first number and the distance from the edge. You can also skip the cover page or number only a range of pages.
The last number, used by {total} in formats such as “Page 3 of 12”, is calculated from the pages you actually number. If you skip the cover or number only a range, the total still matches what readers see, which is exactly what reviewers and printers expect.
How to add page numbers in four steps
Step 1: Open the PDF
Drop the file or choose it with the keyboard. The number of pages is shown so you can plan your numbering.
Step 2: Choose the position
Place numbers at the top or bottom, on the left, in the centre or on the right. Positions are measured on the page as it is displayed, so rotated pages are numbered correctly.
Step 3: Set the format
Pick a preset or write your own with {n} for the number and {total} for the last number. Set the first number, and tick the option to leave the cover page unnumbered.
Step 4: Apply and download
Download the numbered PDF, or pass it to the signing, watermark or compression tools in one click.
Zero-Server
Numbering documents without sharing them
The documents that need numbering tend to be formal: legal bundles, academic work, financial reports. They are often confidential until submitted, which makes uploading them to a third-party service a poor idea.
CareerPDF writes the numbers with pdf-lib inside your tab. For Latin-script formats the numbers are real, selectable text using a standard PDF font. For formats in other scripts, such as “صفحة 1 من 10”, your browser renders the label so the letters are shaped correctly. Either way, the file stays on your device.
Documents that benefit from numbering
- Theses, dissertations and academic reports.
- Legal bundles and evidence files.
- Tender responses and business proposals.
- Manuals and handbooks that will be printed.
Frequently asked questions
Can I start numbering from a number other than 1?
Yes. Set “First number” to any value, for example 5 if the document continues an earlier part.
How do I leave the cover page unnumbered?
Tick “Do not number the first page”. Numbering then begins on page two with your first number.
Can I use my own format?
Yes. Choose “Custom” and write any text with {n} for the page number and {total} for the last number, such as “Annex B – {n}”.
Will the numbers be selectable text?
For Latin-script formats, yes. Arabic and other scripts are drawn by the browser and embedded as small images so that they display correctly.
What happens with rotated pages?
Positions are calculated on the page as you see it, so a landscape page stored with a rotation still gets its number at the visual bottom.
Is my file uploaded?
No. Numbers are added inside your browser and the file never leaves your device.
How large a file can I process?
There is no limit imposed by a server, because no server is involved. The limit is your device’s memory: a modern computer handles files of a few hundred megabytes, while phones are more comfortable below about 100 MB.
Which browsers are supported?
Current versions of Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari and Samsung Internet on desktop, Android and iOS. JavaScript must be enabled, because the processing itself is JavaScript running on your device.